How Long Do Macs Last? 6 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Mac

Quality, performance, and durability are just a few characteristics that Macs are known for. Many users remain loyal to the brand and continue using their devices for a long time. However, how long do Macs last? What are the indicators that your Mac is coming to its lifespan?

In this article, we’ll try to answer these questions and offer you some suggestions that can help prolong your Mac performance and even advise you when to think of purchasing a new one.

How Long Do MacBooks Last?

Any Mac model is believed to run for five to seven years; though, it is hard to specify a certain Mac lifetime as it depends on a concrete Mac model, quality of maintenance, etc.

General Factors That Influence a MacBook’s Lifespan

How long do Macs last? Let’s explore the various factors that can impact the lifespan of your Mac and learn to recognize the signifying signs that it’s time to say goodbye to your trusted device.

• Usage patterns: How you use your MacBook affects its longevity. Casual users who browse the internet and perform basic tasks can expect a longer lifespan compared to heavy users who run resource-intensive applications.
• Hardware specifications: The performance and durability of your MacBook depend on its hardware specifications. High-end models with better processors and more RAM tend to last longer.
• Maintenance: Doing routine maintenance, including cleaning, software updates, and gentle handling of your MacBook, would significantly increase its lifetime.
• Wear and tear: Physical wear and tear, including dents, scratches, and others, can diminish a MacBook’s life span.

6 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Mac

Although Macs are made to serve for a long time, they also get old and wear out. Eventually, your Mac will start to show signs of performance drop and failures. Here are some of the typical signs your Mac is reaching its lifespan, and it is time you consider buying another one.

1. You Can’t Run the Latest Version of macOS

The most obvious sign that your Mac is getting outdated is when it cannot be updated to the latest macOS. Every fall, Apple unveils a fresh version of macOS packed with new features that not only boost security but also improve compatibility with other devices and services.

Nevertheless, the latest version of macOS cannot be operated in all Mac models. Usually, Apple supports Mac models for approximately seven years. For instance, the recent macOS is macOS Sonoma (version 14), which was released in September 2023. The oldest Mac models that can run macOS Sonoma are Macs from 2017 and later, depending on the Mac model.

If you own an older Mac model, it cannot be updated to macOS Sonoma. Therefore, you would not be able to enjoy the new features and improvements on macOS Sonoma. It also implies that your Mac will be less secure and, thus, more vulnerable to malware and viruses because Apple no longer issues security updates for older versions of macOS.

2. Your MacBook Battery Life Is Poor

Battery life is one of the most important factors for the usability of your MacBook Laptop. This leads to the question: “How long do Macs last?”. The life of a good MacBook battery can last for several hours before recharging, and one can keep working or playing without a socket.

Though your MacBook battery will slowly degrade in performance, it is normal and cannot be avoided since batteries have the possibility of recharging only a certain number of times. According to Apple, a MacBook battery can still have 80% of its original capacity after 1,000 charge cycles.

Follow these steps to check how many charge cycles your MacBook battery has gone through:

• Click on the Apple menu > select About This Mac.

• Then click on More Info.
• Then, scroll down and select System Report.

• Under the Hardware section, choose the Power tab and look for the Cycle Count and Max Capacity rows.

If your cycle count is nearly 1,000 or above, it means your battery is at the very still of its lifespan, and you may observe a noticeable degradation in the performance. You may also see other signs of a failing battery, such as:

• Your MacBook shuts down unexpectedly, or you can’t even turn it on.
• Your Mac runs hot.
• Your Mac shows a warning message saying “Service Battery” or “Replace Soon.”

If the battery of your MacBook runs into any one of these problems, you should start thinking about replacing it immediately. A defective battery will not only impact the usability of your MacBook but also compromise your safety. Take your MacBook battery to an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider, where you can replace it.

3. Your Mac Won’t Boot Properly

How long do Macs last and stay in service? It is very worrying when a Mac fails to boot properly; it can actually indicate that there is something wrong with your Mac. This means you will not be able to reach any of your files, apps, or settings on your Mac. There are several possible reasons why your Mac won’t boot, such as:

• A power issue: Your Mac doesn’t have enough power to start.
• A hardware issue: A faulty logic board, memory, the hard drive, or display of your Mac.
• A software issue: Corrupted system file that prevents it from loading macOS properly.

There are several ways to repair a Mac that won’t boot up, depending upon the cause. Here are some common solutions that you can try:

• Check the power.
• Reset the SMC.
• Reset the NVRAM.
• Boot in the recovery mode and try running the First Aid in the Disk Utility to repair the disk.

4. Your Apps Are Slow or Crashing

The other sign of Mac problems is when your applications are extremely slow, or they keep on crashing. This could indicate that your Mac is simply not powerful enough or unable to run as you need it to if, however, the Mac is used for more power-demanding tasks (video editing, gaming, etc.).

Your apps may be slow or crashing due to many circumstances like insufficient disk space, low RAM, out-of-date software, malware, and corrupted files. Some of these issues can be fixed by performing some basic troubleshooting steps like:

• Deleting unnecessary files results in free disk space.
• Adding more RAM to your Mac or closing unused apps and tabs can ease up the memory.
• Scanning your Mac for malware and viruses.
• Checking your disk and repairing your disk permissions.

These practices not only solve some of the immediate issues but also help extend the lifespan of your Mac, thus answering the question of how long Macs last.

5. Your MacBook is Overheating

When your Mac begins to overheat, it is uncomfortable and dangerous for the internal Mac component. However, this is often associated with the poor performance of the cooling system in the Mac. This may be caused by dust or resource-intensive processes.

Here is how you can try fixing the overheating issue on your Mac:

• Clean the vents and fans.
• Use a cooling pad.
• Monitor the apps that take much RAM via Activity Monitor.
• Manage login items.

6. Your Mac is Running Out of Storage Space

Running out of storage on your Mac is a common problem, as we all have experienced over time it becomes cluttered with various files, photos, and applications. This may lower performance, slow response times, and hinder productivity.

To fix the storage issues, do the following:

• Delete unnecessary large files.
• Use iCloud, Time Machine, or external disks to store files.
• Clear temporary files regularly.

How to Recover Data from a Failing or Old Mac

Data loss is one of the clear signs that your Mac is growing old or it is dying. Your data may be lost, corrupted, deleted, or go through formatting or partition losses that can be a result of power surges, hard drive failure, or a virus flurry, among others. Loss of data can, in some situations, translate to a huge loss, especially if you have confidential documents that were not backed up.

However, there is a way to get your lost or deleted data on your Mac back with the help of reliable Mac recovery software. One of the best available options in the market is Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac.

To recover your data using Stellar Data Recovery for Mac, you need to follow these simple steps:

• Launch the software and select the type of data you want to recover.

• Run the scan and preview the recoverable files.
• Select the files you want to recover and click Recover.
• Save the recovered files to a different location or an external storage device.

Wrapping Up

Some signs and solutions in this article will enable you to know how long Macs last and the right time to buy a new Mac. Notably, these are not the only factors affecting your Mac’s lifespan. You should also consider your personal preferences, budget, and what you require from the product, among other aspects. But at the end of the day, you have got to make a decision whether to replace your Mac or not. But if you see any of the following signs, it might be the right time for your search.

Read more:

• How to Set up a New Mac with Ease?
• How to Install macOS Sonoma Without Losing Data
• How to Recover Data From a Dead Mac in 3 Easy Ways